The United Nations Ocean Conference is a game changer for the Oceans, says Sweden’s deputy Prime Minister Isabella Lövin.

Ms Lövin is in New York to co-host the United Nations Ocean Conference which starts today.

She will co-host the Conference with Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama.

“This is really a possibility of a game changer for the oceans. I think it is fantastic that Fiji and Sweden- two countries on the opposite sides of the planet-can do this together and bring the whole world together here at the UN.

“We are submitting more than 20 voluntary commitments ranging from reducing plastic pollution and also supporting developing countries when it comes to controlling illegal fisheries and reducing marine litter.”

She has implored to the whole world to join Sweden and Fiji in saving our ocean.

“What it means that we are committing to oceans and SDG 14 and we need to work together with the whole world to protect and save our oceans.”

On the partnership with Fiji, she said: “I think we have been great partners. It has been two years of preparing for this conference with our different networks and our different sizes; I think everything has been complementary.”

The Conference starts today at the UN Headquarters in New York.

Representatives of both countries met yesterday to finalise finer details before the Conference starts.

Edited by Maraia Vula

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